Simplest Apple Tart
Instructions:
- A quick, crisp tart in which delicious shell and straightforward
filling share center stage. You can make the same
tart with pears (make sure they’re ripe), peaches, or nectarines
Top with Spice Ice Cream made with all cinnamon , Vanilla Ice
Cream , or Whipped Cream .
- 1 recipe Sweet Tart Crust
, fitted into a tart pan and chilled - 2 to 3 pounds tart apples, like McIntosh
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup strained raspberry, apricot, or currant preserves (optional)
- 1 tablespoon water or liqueur (optional)
- Prebake the crust and start the apples while the crust is in the oven. When the crust is done, turn the oven to 375 F. Set the shell aside to cool.
- Peel and core the apples, then cut them into thin slices (about 1/8 inch thick); use a mandoline if you have one. Toss them with the lemon juice so they don’t brown.
- Arrange the apple slices in concentric circles in the tart shell, with the circles overlapping. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon, then dot with butter.
- Put the tart pan on a baking sheet and bake until the apples are quite soft (a thin-bladed knife will pierce them easily) but still hold their shape, about 40 minutes.
- Cool on a rack for about 20 minutes.
- To glaze: While the tart is cooling, warm the strained preserves with the water or liqueur in a very small saucepan over medium-low heat until thinned. Brush this over the top of the tart. Serve the tart at room temperature.
- Apple-Almond Tart.
- Toast 3/4 cup blanched almonds while you heat the oven for the tart shell: Put them on a baking sheet and bake (you can do this before the oven reaches 425 F), shaking, for 5 to 10 minutes, or just until they begin to brown.
- Cool, then put them in a food processor and finely grind them (stop processing before they turn into a paste). Toss with 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1 tablespoon sugar, then spread them on the bottom of the prebaked tart shell before topping with the apples and proceeding with the recipe.